Event detection and trigger definition in content delivery networks

Abstract

Systems, methods, apparatus, and software for detecting an event in a content delivery network include utilizing a trigger defined by an admin user. Triggers can be preconfigured or can be configurable. Data fields populated by the admin user include event-defining data fields and action-defining data fields. When event-defining data criteria are met, an event has occurred and is detected. One or more actions defined by the admin user populating the action-defining data fields can then be initiated. Detection of an event can be achieved by collecting data from the content delivery network and processing the collected data to detect when the event has occurred.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of operating a content delivery network (CDN) to detect a CDN event, the method comprising:
 defining a CDN trigger for the CDN event, the trigger being defined by one or more event-defining data criteria, wherein the event occurs when the one or more event-defining data criteria are met, wherein defining the CDN trigger comprises:
 a processor receiving an admin user selection indicating a request to define the CDN trigger; and 
 responsive to receiving the admin user selection, the processor providing a user interface for electronic display to the admin user, wherein the user interface provides multiple fields configured to be populated by receiving admin user trigger definition data, the multiple fields comprising:
 one or more event-defining data fields, each event-defining data field configured to receive event-defining data input; and 
 one or more action fields, each action field identifying an action to be initiated by the content delivery network when the event occurs. 
 
   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising receiving an admin user selection to define one of the following:
 a configurable trigger; 
 a preconfigured trigger. 
 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the one or more action fields comprise one or more of the following selectable options:
 initiating a text message; 
 initiating an email message; 
 an admin user account-related action; 
 locking down content. 
 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein each event-defining data field is configured to receive one or more of the following:
 a maximum data value; 
 a minimum data value; 
 a data range value; 
 geographic identification information; 
 IP address information; 
 date-related information. 
 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 collecting data from the content delivery network; and 
 processing the collected data to determine whether the event has occurred; and 
 initiating an action defined by the one or more action fields when the event occurs. 
 
     
     
         6 . A computer apparatus to operate an event detection and trigger definition unit in a content delivery network (CDN), the computer apparatus comprising processing instructions that direct the event detection and trigger definition unit, when executed by the event detection and trigger definition unit, to:
 receive an admin user selection indicating a request to define a CDN trigger; and   responsive to receiving the admin user selection, provide a user interface for electronic display to the admin user, wherein the user interface provides multiple fields configured to be populated by receiving trigger definition data, the multiple fields comprising:
 one or more event-defining data fields, each event-defining data field configured to receive event-defining data input; and 
 one or more action fields, each action field identifying an action to be initiated by the content delivery network when the event occurs. 
   
     
     
         7 . The computer apparatus of  claim 6  wherein the processing instructions further direct the trigger definition unit to receive an admin user selection to define one of the following:
 a configurable trigger; 
 a preconfigured trigger. 
 
     
     
         8 . The computer apparatus of  claim 6  wherein the one or more action fields comprise one or more of the following selectable options:
 initiating a text message; 
 initiating an email message; 
 an admin user account-related action; 
 locking down content. 
 
     
     
         9 . The computer apparatus of  claim 6  wherein each event-defining data field is configured to receive one or more of the following:
 a maximum data value; 
 a minimum data value; 
 a data range value; 
 geographic identification information; 
 IP address information; 
 date-related information. 
 
     
     
         10 . The computer apparatus of  claim 6  wherein the processing instructions further direct the trigger definition unit to:
 collect data from the content delivery network; and 
 process the collected data to determine whether the event has occurred; and 
 initiate an action defined by the one or more action fields when the event occurs. 
 
     
     
         11 . A method of detecting an event in a content delivery network, the method comprising:
 defining a trigger for the event, wherein defining the trigger comprises:
 a processor receiving an admin user selection indicating a request to define the trigger; and 
 responsive to receiving the admin user selection, the processor providing a user interface for electronic display to the admin user, wherein the user interface provides multiple fields configured to be populated by receiving trigger definition data, the multiple fields comprising:
 one or more event-defining data fields, each event-defining data field configured to receive event-defining data input; and 
 one or more action fields, each action field identifying an action to be initiated by the content delivery network when the event occurs; 
 
   collecting data from the content delivery network;   processing the collected data to detect when the event has occurred; and   initiating an action defined by the one or more action fields when the event is detected.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11  further comprising receiving an admin user selection to define one of the following:
 a configurable trigger; 
 a preconfigured trigger. 
 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12  wherein the preconfigured trigger is selected from a plurality of preconfigured triggers maintained in a library. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the one or more action fields comprise one or more of the following selectable options:
 initiating a text message; 
 initiating an email message; 
 an admin user account-related action; 
 locking down content. 
 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11  wherein each event-defining data field is configured to receive one or more of the following:
 a maximum data value; 
 a minimum data value; 
 a data range value; 
 geographic identification information; 
 IP address information; 
 date-related information.